Pneumatic cotton-picking system.



J. s.' THURMAN. PNEUMATIG COTTON PIGKING SYSTEM.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1908. 918,794.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L.

wam WMO VQU, w im@ Y B WITNESSES.-

y J. S. THURMAN. I PNEUMATIG COTTON PICKING SYSTEM.

VAPPLIOATION FILED JULY 13, 1908.

Patented A131220, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

A TORN E Y.

JOHN STROTlillt 'FHlTRhL-M, OF`ST..LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PNEUIMATIC COTTON-PICKIN G SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented .April 20, 1909.

Application led July 13, 1908. ISerial No. 443,270.

To all w71 om it may concern.:

Be 1t known that I, JOHN STRoTnER THUR- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St.l Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cotton-Picking Systems7 of which the following is a full, clear, and exact dcscription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in pneumatic cotton-pickers; and it consists in the novel features of construction more fullyset forth in the specication and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a general perspective showing the application of my iin- )rovement in the field; Fig. 2 is a comined vertical elevation and sect-ion ofthe vacuum tank or receptacle in which the cotton is deposited,- the section being on the broken line 2*-2 'of Fig. 3 Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3--43 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan of the receptacle or tank; Fig. is an enlarged elevational detail of the screen or separator; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the hne 6-6 of Fig. 5 5 Fig. 7 is an outer face view of the gate of the receptacle; '.Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail on line 9-9 of Fig. 3 of one of' the sight openings or Windows with which the receptacle is pro vided. p

The presentinvention has for its object the construction of appliancesspecially adapted to the picking of cotton by the pneumatic process, and particularly the vacuum met iod (as distinguished from the compressed air method), that is tosay the method whereby the cotton is severed from` the boll by theaction of atmospheric air rushing into a vacuum created in the suction head or tool which is applied to the cotton in the boll. The cotton once severed from the boll is carried by the action of the vacuum into a receptacle or low pressure reservoir from which the air is strained and drawn into or through the vacuum producing means, be the same a pump, injector, or a combination ol the two. every'ber of the cotton is drawn oiii' the boll,

absolutely preventing any loss whatsoever,l

By the action of-a vacuum mount-ed on a movable track and the receptacle is interposed between the pump, and the picking tool or suction-head which in turn is coupled to the receptacle b v a. line of hose reaching to any point in the field. The tool is held in the hand and passed from boll to boll until the necessary quantity of cotton is picked. While the suctlon-head must be specially constructed for the gathering ot' cot-ton, as distinguished from suction-heads or renovating tools employed Iin vacuum cleaning systems, it is also true that specially constructed rece )ta'cles must be availed of to intercept and collect the cotton in its passage toward the vacuum producing means. The suction-head is here illustrated in a general way, forming as it does the Subject-niatter of a distinct application for patent, but the vacuum receptacle or tank is here set forth in detail., and it is to this feature that the present invention is specifically directed. lts advantages will be best ap arent fromr a detailed description thereof W ichis as follows Referring to the drawings, P represents a vacuum-pump, between which and the portable suction-head or tool T is interposed a tank or receptacle R into which the cotton is directed and where it is deposited. In the pipe l connecting the pump with the receptacle is interposed a vacuum-control valve V, which regulates the work imposed on the umpby the degree of vacuum in the tanlg R, said valve being in turn controlled by the pilot-valve V connected to the tank and control-valve by the pipes 2 and 3 respectively. These features are merely referred to herein and not dwelt on in detail; forming as they doV subject-matter of a separate application for patent.

Distributed about the peripheral walls` of the cotton-rmeiving receptacle R, are a series of Y-shaped couplings 4 from the legs or members of which lead the suction-pipes or air-hose l5, 5, directly to the suctionheads T. The couplings are screwed to the screw-threaded nipples 6, which project a suitable distance into thc receptacle to which inner ends are screwed the elbows or nozzles 7, the latterv being inclined downwardly so as to direct the cotton toward the inclined bottom or hopper R of the receptacle. `To ascertain the condition of things within the rece tacle at any time, I provide the vertical wal of the latter with windows located diametrieally opposite one another of t e tube being e osed.

so as-to avail oneself of the light entering the receptacle therethrough; each window -being composed of a glass (or equivalent trans arent) disk 8 held in position by a mille screw-ca 9 which is screwed over the outer end ot a hollow nipple 10 screwed into the Wall of the receptacle, the cap being limited b the annular ring or flange 11 .on the nipp e, which ring in turn limits the distance the nipple is screwed into the receptacle wall (Fig. 9). A suitable packing ring 12 is interposed between the glass disk and the terminal flange of the screwllhe cotton is dischargedfrom the receptacle through an opening in one of the ina clined walls of the hopper R, said opening being normallyclosed by a door 13 (preferably circular), the outer face of the door being provided lwith a socket 1,4 which receives a screw-bolt 15 by which the hingebar 16 passing diametrically across the door is secured to the latter. .One end of this bar 16 is forked, the fork arms being hinged to the ears or lugs 17 formed about the'door opening O, the o osite end of the bar having pivoted the eto the angular locking.-

. these devices.

Depending from the roof of the receptacle, and coupling to the elbow 20 from which the eduction pipe 1 leads to the pump is a tube or pipe 21 provided with a series (two in the Ipresent case) of longitudinal peri heral slots or o enings 22, lthe bottom Clamped about the lower end of the tube is a band or strap 23, a corresponding bandv 24 being clamped about the upper end. Theselbands form the terminals of an accordion-like screen or filter bag F composed of a series of rings Supporting a web or cloth of proper mesh to flee y allow the air t'o strain therethrough, but intercept the 'cotton (and any dust and other particles held in suspension by the inrushing air). The filtered air passes through the openings 22 onward through the fpipe 1 to the vacuum pump, the cotton (an impurities) dropping into thehopper R and receptacle lt. When a sutlicicnt quantity of t 1e cotton has accumulated, the" o erator allows the same to be discharged t rough the door 13.

'1`he operation of the invention will be readily understood `from the description. l and The vacuum pump being started, and the. valves a with which the branches of the couplings 4 are provided being turned to o en position, the o erators pass the nozzles oi) their several too s or suction-heads T in close proximity to the cotton-boli, when the inrush of atmospheric air into the vacuum produced in the pipe-line or hose 5 brushes past the cotton, severing the' same from its boll and carrying it across the intervening s )ace between the cotton and nozzle, through tlie nozzle and tool, into the hose 5, thence through the hose into the receptacle R. lhe iilter or bag F intercepts the cotton, allowing the filtered air to pass through the eduction pipe 1 toward the pum i, the cotton dropping to the bottom of the rece )tac-le. The interior condition of the rece )tacie may be inspected at any time througli the windows 8. Of course during the discharge of the cotton, the pump is either stopped, or the same may be cut oii' from the receptacle by any system of valves (not shown).

By referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the air charged with cotton and impurities is directed out of range of the iilter lf, the latter being raised above the direction which the currents emerging out of the nozzles 7, may take., so as not to be in dangery of deterioration by the impact of such currents. i

Having described my invention, what l claim is 1. In a vacuum cotton picking system, the combination of a receptacle, a suction-limiti in operative connection therewith adapted to4 be placed in proximity to the cotton on the boil, vacuum-producing means for drawing atmospheric air across the cotton and into the suction-head hereby-the cotton is severed from the boll and carried into the head, means for conducting the cottonladen current into the receptacle and directing it toward the bottom thereof, means for conducting the air out ol' the receptacle, and a iilter or screen depending from the roof of the receptacle and positioned out ol' the range of th'cl cotton-laden currents projected into the receptacle 2. In combination with a receptacle having an air eduction pipe leading therefrom, a pcripherally slotted or open 'tube communicating at one end with said eduction pipe, and a iilter or screen encompassing said tube whereby the air is free to pass out of the rcccptacle into the eduction pipe, and solid bodies are intm'crpted b r said Ilter.

ln combination with a cotton-picking vacuunl-receptacle having an eduction pipe leading from the roof thereol", a tube closed at the bottom and open along its peripheral walls depending from the roof of the receptacle, and communicating with said eduction ipe, bands clamped about the upper lldwer ends of the' tube, and an accordion-like filter or screen disposed loosely i around the tube between the bands'. 4. In combination with a vacuum-receptaaie, means for. conducting the air out ofthe 5 receptacle, e. seeenuor lter for intercepting the solid particles, and mean'sfor directing the charged air rinto vthe receptacle in direetions out of rangeof the screen. l 5. In combination witha Vacuum .1-ecep. 10 taele, a series of airfprojecting nozzles'di? reeting the Iair toward the bottom ofthe re `avoided.

'In testimoinywhereof Izafii my signatle,

in presence of two Witnesses.

. JOHN STROTHER THURMAN. Witnesses: l EMiL ,STAREIQ W. CONKLIN? 

